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OFFICIAL Piranha Bytes® YouTube channeldevelopers of the GOTHIC®, Risen® and ELEX® series.Check out https://www.facebook.com/elexgame/ to stay updated.Offizi...
Ranking and reviewing all Piranha Bytes games: Gothic 1, Gothic 2: Night of the Raven, Gothic 3, Risen 1, Risen 2: Dark Waters, Risen 3: Titan Lords, Elex, a...
- Piranha Bytes redeems itself with this standout role-playing experience.
- Verdict
By Charles Onyett
Updated: May 9, 2012 9:24 pm
Posted: Oct 9, 2009 5:59 pm
The skies are swirling with fury and there are beasts on the shore. As they approach, you're doubtful the slab of driftwood in your hand will be capable of swatting them aside. Shaking off the shock of waking up near-dead on the beach after the shipwreck, at the back of your mind gnaws the curiosity as to what kind of mysteries are set inside this densely forested island. Before giving in to that line of thinking wholeheartedly, more essential needs shoulder to the front of your thoughts. What do I eat? Who can I turn to for help? How do I get stronger? And more importantly, how do I kill this repulsive giant vulture creature without getting my skull caved in?
Such are the opening moments of Piranha Bytes' Risen, a new open-world role-playing game from the makers of the Gothic series. Anyone who knows the studio's previous work will find a lot familiar here, from the general ambiance of the world to the presentation, feel of gameplay, and style of exploration. You'll also find it's quite user-friendly, at least in a relative sense, compared to the studio's more hardcore Gothic games. Still, to any newcomer unaware of the history of Gothic and Piranha Bytes, this is not a game that holds your hand. While a little more direction in spots would have been appreciated, the game's exemplary implementation of tone and methods of advancement make its rewards feel all the more powerful, and despite some hiccups with combat, make it one of the best role-playing experiences of 2009 so far.
It's quite a recovery for Piranha Bytes from the technical mess that was Gothic 3, a game with a dizzying scope easily matched by the breadth of its issues. Risen whittles that down into a more digestible, manageable space – the volcano island of Faranga. While it may not look like much at first, rest assured that the rocky cliffs, wooded areas, and farmlands are honeycombed with enough caves and eldritch warrens to make any loot hunter giddy. Just so you know what you're in for, though, the loot in this game, like Gothic games past, isn't showered over you along with an avalanche of statistical bonuses. You've got one slot for armor, one for a helmet, can carry a bow and a melee weapon, and a few pieces of jewelry. The rate at which major bits of gear, like armor, are swapped out in Risen isn't what could be described as rapid. In many cases the armor sets not only make you more resilient, but indicate status and accomplishments, giving your protective garb a narrative value in addition to bestowing additional defensive bonuses.
Whether or not you'll enjoy Piranha Bytes' Risen really depends on what kind of gamer you are. Though this is a more humble and user-friendly product than Gothic titles past, it's still very much a hardcore role-playing game. If you're not willing to figure some things out for yourself and the idea of freedom of choice doesn't sit well with you, ch...
- Charles Onyett
Risen. (series) Risen is an action role-playing game franchise developed by the German company Piranha Bytes. It is published and distributed by the German company Deep Silver, a division of Koch Media. The franchise is close to the three first episodes of the Gothic franchise, also developed by Piranha Bytes.
Aug 30, 2006 · A 10-minute "Making Of" video for Risen has been released by Deep Silver, along with an accompanying press release: "Making Of" interview with Piranha Bytes...
541 subscribers in the Risen community. Subreddit dedicated to Piranha Bytes Studio's series Risen.
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Jun 19, 2022 · In addition to the Gothic series, Piranha Bytes also developed the Risen series. Risen, the first game in the series, was released in 2009 and took you to an island world infested with monsters. Risen 2: Dark Waters and Risen 3: Titan Lords followed, in which you experience pirate adventures in an open world and take on the titans.
